Tom Welland: Pro boxer hoping to represent Philippines at Paris Olympics

Tom Welland names Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao, a world champion in eight different weight divisions, as his favourite fighter

When is a professional boxer not a professional boxer?

If they are picked to fight at an Olympic Games.

Tom Welland will have his third pro contest against Esteban Troetsch in Telford on Friday - but he is hoping his 2024 schedule will also include representing the Philippines at the Paris Olympics.

Welland is eligible for selection because his mother comes from the Philippines, and, since the 2016 Rio Olympics, the rules have allowed professionals to take part - even though the Olympic boxing tournament is an amateur competition.

"I have a clause in my contract that I can go back as an amateur and fight in the Olympics," the 19-year-old told BBC Essex.

"I went over there about eight months ago and trained alongside them. I still speak to them frequently, so I can still do that if the call-up comes, we'll just have to wait and see."

Featherweight Welland stopped Francisco Rodriguez on his professional debut last October, and two months later outpointed Yuri Zanoli in Sunderland - a fight he described as "a brutal bloodbath, not one for the weak-hearted".

Despite that, he is confident he can make the transition back to faster-paced amateur boxing without too much difficulty.

"Professional boxing is a lot slower, a lot more technical. Amateur boxing is three three-minute rounds, it's an absolute sprint," said Welland, from Wickford in Essex.

"The preparation is different. I would change my running, for example, I'd have to do more short sprint work.

"My sparring would be changed - I wouldn't be sparring eight or 10 rounds, I'd be sparring four or six rounds at a faster pace.

"It's different, but the transition isn't too much if you're the right pedigree."

Welland took an unusual route into boxing - he was playing football, aged 13, for Cambridge United's youth academy when he first entered the ring at a gym for some physical conditioning.

He said: "I was like 'that's absolutely perfect, I'm going to have a tear up three times a week and get strong that way'.

"I got to the semi-final of the national championship in my first season and thought 'I'm not playing football anymore'. I just boxed from then on."

Welland represented England as an amateur and outpointed Owain Harris-Allan - who won a bantamweight bronze medal for Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham - early last year, before entering the pro ranks following two further contests.

And it would be a thrill to represent the country in the French capital in July and August - if given a chance to stake his claim.

He added: "Obviously, you have to go to a qualifying event for the Olympics. Team GB have their final qualifying in Italy at the end of March. Our final qualifying is in Bangkok, Thailand in May or June.

"Maybe in the next month, six weeks, I'll know what I'm doing. I have got professional fights lined up just in case, a back-up plan in case I don't get that call-up, I haven't closed every door."

Tom Welland was speaking to BBC Essex's Rob Jelly